Strategic Planning Now
Ultimately there will be no substitute for the fact that Strategic Planning Means:
You have to think
You have to be honest with yourselves
You have to make up your mind
You have to do something
The purpose of planning is to initiate immediate actions which have the maximum probability of optimal results over time.
You plan because it's your best chance for survival in a fast changing world.
If you're sailing in rough weather, the course corrections can be substantial- you need the chart to tell you how closely you are following the course to get to your destination at any time..
The Following Questions May Help You Evaluate the Quality Of Your Strategic Planning Process.
What Are Our Current Strategic Plans?
Are these plans short term, medium term, of long term? Are our strategic plans followed or not followed? Do our strategic plans have a relationship to day to day decisions? How often do we meaningfully visit the current plan and do we plan to plan in the future?(annually etc.) Do we recognize planning as a continuous, active, vital, reiterative process?
Do We Have A Future Vision For Ourselves?
How accurate/updated is our future vision? How are current procedures and operations aligned with that future?
Do We Have A Clear Mission Statement?
Does the organization have a clear statement of what business the it is in?-- What functions?/For whom?/How do we perform that mission?
Does The Organization Have A Clear Set Of Organizational Values To Guide Behavior And Decision Making? Quality/Responsibility/Mutual Benefit/Efficiency/Freedom etc..
How Would You Describe Your Organization's Strategic Intent? (Obsession with winning- just get by or take over the world?)
What Is Current Commitment Level To The Planning Process/Strategic Plan?
How much time is allocated to planning? Who is involved? Does the CEO articulate his commitment and support for planning?
Do We Have The Information We Need To Know In Order To Plan Successfully?
Financials, Industry Data, Surveys, Current Economic Climate, Relationship With Competitors, Need for Quality Improvement, Need To Strengthen Customer Relationships, Need To Cut Overhead and Vendor Costs, Need to Re-Vitalize/Re-Align Workforce
Do Strategic Plans Include Specific Future Scenarios And Business Models In Detail? Major lines of business, Critical success indicators, Strategic business thrusts and timetable, Determine organizational cultural requirements required to support thrusts
Is A Current Performance Audit Part Of Your Planning Process? Today's state vs. the future business model- GAP Analysis with specific strategies to bridge each gap such as lengthen time frame for accomplishing objectives, reduce size or scope of objective, reallocate resources to achieve goals, or obtain new resources?
Does Your Planning Process Include Detailed Competitor Analysis? Customer Satisfaction internal audit/external surveys, Defined layers of competitive advantage, A search for loose bricks in your customer relationships, Exploration of alternative terms of engagement, Exploration of collaboration with competitors, Identification of your competitive differentiators and a plan for how to maximize them.?
Is your planning process characterized by objectivity, candor, openness, and non-defensiveness? Honesty and realism allow realistic plans to be developed.
Does Your Strategic Plan Include contingency Planning? Contingency plans when low probability events occur, identification of most important threats, developing trigger points should they occur, monitoring of key indicators that stimulate contingencies, agreeing on which action steps will be taken should they occur?
Are Your Strategic Plans Well Integrated Into Day to Day Operations? Integrated into detailed operational plans- budgets, timetables, etc to become the tactical plans of the organization- financial, sales, human and capital resources etc.. each functional unit understands their relationship with the overall plans.
Does Your Organization continually Monitor Factors Which Contribute To Or Effect Planning? Scorecards, internal surveys, customer satisfaction metrics, social and demographic factors, technology developments, interest rates, deregulation etc..
Aquarius Training & Development consultants will help your organization establish a vital strategic planning process that drives competitiveness, improvement and positive growth. Contact us today to get individualized recommendations on how to begin.
info@aquariustraining.com 760-815-4527
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